After spending 15 seasons at the University of Kentucky, men’s basketball coach John Calipari is reportedly heading to the University of Arkansas.
Calipari is a three-time Naismith College Coach of the Year who led Kentucky to a national championship in 2012. He will take over for former Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman, who left the program for a gig with the USC Trojans.
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One of the reasons why Calipari was attracted to this position in particular, according to reports, was a friendship with the heir to a chicken empire (via ESPN):
“The key relationship to help the deal come together was Calipari’s long-standing ties to John H. Tyson, a billionaire who is a longtime Arkansas benefactor.”
John H. Tyson is the grandson of John W. Tyson, who founded Tyson Foods.
He is is the chairman and former CEO of the company, which is the second-largest processor of chicken, beef, and pork in the world and supplies meat to many fast food restaurants. But it perhaps most famous for its frozen chicken nuggets, which are occasionally shaped like dinosaurs.
Tyson attended the University of Arkansas and his family is the biggest donor to the school. He also reportedly recently played golf with Calipari (via FOX Sports):
“What got this deal done? Calipari’s close relationship with John Tyson of the Tyson Family, who are among the top athletic donors to the University of Arkansas. According to sources, Calipari recently played golf with Tyson when rumors picked up about Musselman potentially leaving for the West Coast and Kentucky’s fan base growing sour on Calipari.”
Calipari has posted on Twitter about his friendship with Tyson, calling him a longtime friend. The two went to dinner together in 2022, per the Fort Smith Times Record.
An important distinction is that Tyson is no longer the CEO of Tyson Foods and is reportedly spending his own money to help bring Calipari to Arkansas.
Other power boosters reportedly involved in helping making this move happen include the Walton family (of Walmart fortune) and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, via ESPN.
This monumental move changes the landscape of college basketball and now Kentucky will begin its search for Calipari’s replacement.
While there are several interesting candidates who will emerge as potential successors for Calipari, it is fascinating that Tyson Foods played such a big role in this coaching change.
